MAX MEADOWS –– Fort Chiswell used 9-0 runs on either side of halftime to separate from Galax and take a 57-33 win over the Maroon Tide in a Mountain Empire District boys’ game Tuesday night.

“Same thing,” said Galax coach Verl Brown, whose Tide gave up a flurry of first-quarter 3-pointers in its previous game. “A guy stands out there and shoots [a 3-pointer], but then they turn around and shoot three? You’ve got to get out there on him.”

FLOYD –– Carroll County limited Floyd County to eight points or fewer in all four quarters and presented Tee Jackson a win in his first game as the Cavaliers’ head coach as Carroll stymied the Buffaloes 42-23 in a nondistrict game Tuesday night.

Carroll County led just 17-13 at halftime but pulled away in the second half by holding the Buffaloes to 10 points after intermission.

Garrett Haynes led all scorers with 13 points for the Cavaliers and Caden Hodges added 11.

HILLSVILLE –– Preceding Wednesday’s Carroll County-Floyd County girls’ basketball game, a public service announcement explained to fans the VHSL’s new 30-point rule. Based on the one that has been in place for years in football, a continuously-running clock will be implemented in the fourth quarter when a team is ahead by a 30-point margin in an effort to shorten games that are woefully out of hand.

You know it’s going to be a good day when you get to quote Yosemite Sam on the sports page.

The mascots of two of Region 1A West’s final four teams are colors, and if you ever thought coming up with a caricature of a Tide is difficult, try personifying Blue or Maroon. George Wythe created a scowly-faced toughie, fists clenched, in rolled up sleeves and a toboggan – a longshoreman, maybe? – to represent its Maroon. Well played, George Wythe.

THE PLAINS –– Runners from Galax, Grayson County and Carroll County were among the 1,240 athletes to converge on the Great Meadows state course near Manassas as the Virginia High School League contested its 12 cross country state championships Friday and Saturday.

Galax had advanced both its boys’ and girls’ teams out of Region 1A West and managed mid-pack finishes for both squads at the state meet, including some top-25 individual performances.